Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Race-Day Recap
The Cummings training dynasty dominated Saturday’s feature racing at Randwick, with Anthony Cummings and his father James each capturing a Group 1 prize.
Anthony Cummings was up first with She’s Extreme (Extreme Choice) in the Moet & Chandon Champagne S., extinguishing hopes of a rare sweep of Sydney’s 2-year-old Triple Crown by Fireburn (Rebel Dane).
Then it was over to son James, who saddled Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) for a come-from-behind triumph in the Schweppes All Aged S.
The younger Cummings also won the G3 Hall Mark S., courtesy of a daring rails run by crowd favourite Kementari (Lonhro).
Across the Tasman, exciting filly Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) blew her older opposition off the track in a 5l blitz in the G1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S.
Espiona (Extreme Choice) turned a frustrating autumn around with a 4l runaway in the G3 Mostyncopper James H B Carr S.
Former Kiwi filly Verona (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) announced her arrival on the Australian scene with a big finish to win the G3 ACY Securities Frank Packer Plate.
Father and son to the fore
The Cummings clan had a day to remember at Randwick on Saturday, with Anthony Cummings and his son James both training Group 1 winners.
Anthony Cummings struck first with She’s Extreme (Extreme Choice) in the Moet & Chandon Champagne S., and James followed suit two and a half hours later with Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in the Schweppes All Aged S.
Gallery: Anthony Cummings and his son James celebrate Group 1 success at Royal Randwick, images courtesy of Sportpix
“When I won the Stradbroke with Trekking and Dad won the JJ Atkins S. with Prince Fawaz, Bruce McAvaney told me it was the first time in Australian history that it had ever been done,” James Cummings said on Saturday.
“I said to Bruce, ‘Well, we will get up and do it again one day.’ It’s taken us three years.”
She’s Extreme crashes Fireburn’s party
In the countdown to Saturday’s G1 Moet & Chandon Champagne S. at Randwick, all eyes were on Fireburn (Rebel Dane) and her date with destiny – but She’s Extreme (Extreme Choice) had other ideas.
A super-impressive winner of the Golden Slipper and Sires’ Produce S., the Gary Portelli-trained Fireburn stepped out on to Randwick as a $1.50 favourite to become only the seventh winner of Sydney’s 2-year-old Triple Crown.
She's Extreme fights off Fireburn to claim victory in the G1 Champagne S. at Royal Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
No horse had accomplished the famous feat since Pierro in 2012, and the 1992 heroine Burst (Marauding {NZ}) is the only filly to ever join the exclusive club. Thanks to She’s Extreme crashing the party on Saturday and extinguishing Fireburn’s sensational winning streak, that remains the case.
Beaten by 1.5l by Fireburn in the Sires’ Produce S. two weeks ago, She’s Extreme turned the tables on Saturday with a relentless front-running performance.
Sent straight to the lead by jockey Tommy Berry, She’s Extreme controlled the race from the front and then threw down the gauntlet with a fierce kick at the top of the straight.
Fireburn gave her all to try to run her down, but She’s Extreme never wavered and maintained a margin of 0.39l at the finish. Williamsburg (Snitzel) was third, more than 5l behind the first pair.
Tommy Berry and Anthony Cummings after winning the G1 Champagne S. at Royal Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“It really broke my heart when Fireburn went past me the other day, and it broke it even more when Brenton (Avdulla) gave me a wave,” Berry said. “I think it definitely broke her heart as well. It’s hard for a horse to chase, especially a young horse, when another horse goes past you so quickly.
“When we got an easy time early today, which we always looked like getting on paper, I didn’t want to give Brenton any chance to get next to me. I probably got Fireburn out of her comfort zone today, and that was a winning move.
“It’s a great feeling when you go out with a plan and it comes off, and I’ve got to say her work on Tuesday morning was as good as they work.”
"I probably got Fireburn out of her comfort zone today, and that was a winning move." - Tommy Berry
Bought by Anthony Cummings Thoroughbreds for $275,000 from last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, She’s Extreme has now had six starts for two wins, two placings and $715,600 in stakes.
“She did it,” an emotional Cummings said. “It was as simple as working her to her pedigree. With a stayer’s pedigree, when you’re working them for short races to try to keep them fresh, they can do it, but they don’t do it as well.
“As soon as you flick the switch and you start to work them to their pedigree, they get stronger, and that’s what she did. The two weeks in between, she put on weight and just showed herself. It was the best she has ever turned up at the races. Tommy gave her a great ride, and the horse did the rest.”
"As soon as you flick the switch and you start to work them to their pedigree, they get stronger, and that’s what she (She's Extreme) did. The two weeks in between, she put on weight and just showed herself." - Anthony Cummings
Cascadian claims All Aged
Anthony Cummings passed the baton to his son James later on Saturday afternoon as Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) struck Group 1 gold at Randwick for the second time.
The winner of the G1 Doncaster Mile at this carnival 12 months ago, the well-performed Godolphin gelding headed into Saturday’s Schweppes All Aged S. with a typically consistent form line to his name. The 7-year-old won the G2 Peter Young S. and placed in the G1 CF Orr S. in February, then finished close up in fifth in the G1 Australian Cup and The All-Star Mile, and ninth in the Doncaster two weeks ago.
On Saturday he unleashed a powerful sprint out wide for jockey James McDonald, finishing over the top of the retiring multiple Group 1 winner Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) to win by 0.9l. Third placegetter Ellsberg (Spill The Beans) crossed the line another 2.5l behind.
Cascadian (GB) powers home to win the G1 All Aged S. at Royal Randwick | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“That was quite breathtaking really, and a special victory for a horse who has got so much heart,” James Cummings said.
“We had been wondering whether to run him in the Australian Cup, freshen him for the All Aged or run him in the Doncaster. As Dominic (Beirne, Godolphin form analyst) has always taught me, running in one doesn’t preclude you from running in the other, and I actually think his run in the Doncaster set him up for today. He was enormous that day, but it was something of a barrier trial. He freshened up beautifully from then, and he was unbeatable today.”
"As Dominic (Beirne, Godolphin form analyst) has always taught me, running in one doesn’t preclude you from running in the other, and I actually think his (Cascadian's) run in the Doncaster set him up for today." - James Cummings
Stunning success for Kementari
James Cummings also won Saturday’s G3 TAB Hall Mark S. as crowd favourite Kementari (Lonhro) went where angels fear to tread.
Given a daring ride by Nash Rawiller, the flashy 7-year-old found his way through a minuscule opening along the rail, diving through on the inside of Count De Rupee (Real Impact {Jpn}) and Big Parade (Deep Field) for an extraordinary 0.3l win.
Kementari dives through on the inside to win the G3 Hall Mark S. at Royal Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“The horse is going really well and was a pretty determined racehorse there today,” Rawiller said. “I was obviously full of running in the straight and had the opportunity to come out and really didn’t want to. Full credit to the horse – it got a bit sticky for a couple of strides, and he was pretty determined to get through.
“He’s been a ripper. You can see why the staff are all in love with him.”
Kementari has now had 40 starts for eight wins, 12 placings and more than $2.6 million in stakes.
“He’s a wonderful horse,” Cummings said. “I think he’s still got a little bit of racing left in him, but I think the most important thing is that he’s given our racing team, the entire operation for that matter, a big thrill. He’s got something about him that has brought us all together.”
“...I think the most important thing is that he’s (Kementari) given our racing team, the entire operation for that matter, a big thrill. He’s got something about him that has brought us all together.” - James Cummings
Rawiller was suspended for seven meetings for his daring ride. This suspension has been added onto his two week penalty for excessive whip use on Think It Over (So You Think {NZ}). He’s free to return riding on May 13.
Te Akau filly imperious in Breeders’ Stakes
The recent retirements of Group 1-winning machines Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), Avantage (Fastnet Rock) and Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) have left big shoes to fill in the Te Akau Racing operation, but Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) has emerged as a potential new flagbearer for New Zealand’s leading stable.
An emphatic last-start winner of the G1 Levin Classic against her fellow 3-year-olds, Imperatriz faced a new challenge at Te Rapa on Saturday as she came up against a quality field of older mares in the G1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S.
Imperatriz strides clear of the field to win the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' S. at Te Rapa | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
She rose to the occasion with a scintillating performance, careering away to score by 5l from recent Group 1 winners Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) and Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}).
Bought by David Ellis for $360,000 from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Imperatriz has now won seven of her 10 starts.
“She’s a high-class filly, and from her first start as a 2-year-old, you could see how good she was going to be,” trainer Mark Walker said.
“She’s (Imperatriz) a high-class filly, and from her first start as a 2-year-old, you could see how good she was going to be.” - Mark Walker
“She is just getting more mature, and Opie (Bosson) took bad luck out of the equation when he popped off the fence and went three wide. He knew what he had underneath him – he has ridden horses like this all his life, and he knows what to do on the big days.
“We’ll have a few going to Brisbane, but we will just have a think about it with her and see how she trots up on Monday. She did go to Riccarton in the spring, so maybe a break is in order.”
Imperatriz joined the 2008 winner Special Mission (NZ) (Towkay) as only the second 3-year-old filly to win the Breeders’ S. in the last 35 years.
Imperatriz parades with strapper Hunter Durrant after her Te Rapa victory | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
It was the 87th Group 1 victory for Bosson, who has now scored at least one win in every Group 1 race on the New Zealand calendar.
Espiona back on song
After a frustrating autumn, the former boom filly Espiona (Extreme Choice) turned things around in style with a runaway victory in Saturday’s G3 Mostyncopper James H B Carr S.
The Chris Waller-trained filly came into the autumn carnival as a 6l last-start stakes winner at Flemington and one of the most exciting up-and-comers in Australian racing. Defeats in the G2 Light Fingers S., G1 Surround S. and G1 Coolmore Classic may have dimmed the hype, but on Saturday she provided a reminder of what the buzz was about.
Espiona outclasses her opposition to win the G3 James H B Carr S. at Royal Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Ridden by James McDonald, Espiona outclassed her opposition with a brilliant turn of foot in the straight, bounding clear to score by 4.38l – the third win of a six-start career to date.
“It’s been a tricky autumn for a lot of horses and connections,” Waller said. “It’s probably taken away a little bit of confidence.
“She has been ready to go every week, but it’s just been one rain shower after another. The confidence from today will help her. I think she is a really good horse in the making. She has a bright future, and I think you’ll see more of it in the spring.”
Connections of Espiona after winning the G3 James H B Carr S. at Royal Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Former Kiwi filly stars in Frank Packer
The G1 Queensland Oaks is looming large on the horizon for Verona (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}), who announced her arrival in Australia with a big performance in Saturday’s G3 ACY Securities Frank Packer Plate.
Bought for just NZ$8000 at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, Verona was originally trained by Jenna Mahoney and showed bright promise across the Tasman with top-five finishes in this season’s G2 Eight Carat Classic, G2 Royal S. and R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic.
Now a member of the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace team, Verona finished fifth over 1600 metres in her Australian debut at Warwick Farm on March 23.
Verona (NZ) takes out the G3 Frank Packer Plate at Royal Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The step up to 2000 metres worked wonders for her on Saturday, bursting out of the pack for a 1.5l win over Maurice’s Medad (Maurice {Jpn}) and Straight Arron (Fastnet Rock).
“She was well-bought from New Zealand,” stable representative Jo Gerard-Dubord said. “The Boxall family are involved, it’s their colours, so it’s good to get a win for them.
“She landed here about 10 days after the Karaka Million, so she has been here for a while. She spent a bit of time at the beach, and we have taken our time with her.
“We knew there was plenty of improvement in her after last start, but probably not that much improvement, so that was good. She was still very new in the run last time and a bit shy around horses, and obviously the step up in trip was always going to be a big plus too.
“We knew there was plenty of improvement in her (Verona) after last start, but probably not that much improvement, so that was good." - Jo Gerard-Dubord
“She’ll probably have to carry on to Queensland now.”